Dividable step garbage can

ABSTRACT

A garbage can including a can portion having a bottom wall, a tubular wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an upper rim, an inner chamber defined by the bottom wall and the tubular wall, and an open top, a bar adapted to be removably secured simultaneously to a first location and a second location on the upper rim, a ring having a recessed under surface adapted to receive the upper rim therein, the ring being pivotally coupled to the container and arranged to pivot onto and off of the upper rim, and a lid pivotally coupled to the container and arranged to pivot onto and off of the ring when the ring is arranged on the upper rim, wherein the ring is adapted to secure a flexible material between the recessed under surface and the upper rim.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to garbage cans, in particular to garbagecans having the means to secure at least two garbage bags therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Garbage cans are well known. Generally, a garbage can comprises an opentop container often including a lid attached thereto, wherein thecontainer is adapted to receive an open garbage bag therein forreceiving disposed items. The upper margin of a garbage bag held withinthe container is often draped over the upper edge of the container, andthe bag maintains its position within the container primarily by meansof frictional forces between the bag and the upper edge of thecontainer.

Accordingly, a problem with prior garbage cans is that the upper marginof a garbage bag held therein tends to get pulled off the upper edge andfall to the bottom of the container, leaving a user with the unpleasantand unhygienic task of retrieving an often soiled garbage bag from thebottom of a dirty garbage can. Attempts to solve this problem ofteninvolve elaborate garbage bag designs, which may include such structuresas elastic upper margins, draw strings, etc. The design of garbage cans,however, have remained largely unchanged.

Another problem with prior garbage cans is that they can hold only onegarbage bag effectively. Considering the frictional engagement of thebag and the top edge of the container is often insufficient to maintainthe position of a single garbage bag, as described above, the ability ofprior garbage cans to hold two garbage bags side by side within thecontainer is negligible at best, as the portion of each bag adjacent tothe other bag would not be in contact with the top edge, thus, reducingan already ineffectual frictional engagement.

Even assuming, arguendo, that the positions of two adjacent garbage bagscould be temporarily maintained, for example, by not disturbing themwith the disposal of garbage, there would likely be a gap between thebags, due to the amorphous nature of the material of the bags, thusallowing garbage to fall to the bottom of the container between thebags. Certainly, this would also leave the user with the unpleasant andunhygienic task of retrieving garbage from the bottom of a dirty garbagecan. Moreover, each bag would invariably be dragged to the bottom of thecontainer when the user attempts to dispose of items into the garbagecan which, as stated above, is unhygienic. Accordingly, prior garbagecans are not effective for users wishing to separate different types ofgarbage into two bags within one can, as may be the case, for example,when required to separate different types of recyclable garbage.

Thus, there is a longfelt need for garbage can having the means toeffectively and hygienically hold at least two garbage bags therein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a garbage can comprising: a canportion having a bottom wall, a tubular wall extending upwardly from thebottom wall and including an upper rim, an inner chamber defined by thebottom wall and the tubular wall, and an open top; a bar adapted to beremovably secured to a first and a second location on the upper rim,wherein the bar is arranged to extend over the inner chamber between thefirst and the second location on the rim when removably secured thereto;a ring having a recessed under surface adapted to receive the upper rimtherein, the ring being pivotally coupled to the container and arrangedto pivot onto and off of the upper rim; and, a lid pivotally coupled tothe container and arranged to pivot onto and off of the ring when thering is arranged on the upper rim, wherein the ring is adapted to securea flexible material between the recessed under surface and the upperrim.

In one embodiment, the garbage further comprises a: step pedal pivotablyconnected to the bottom wall; and, a lift arm having a bottom end and atop end, wherein the lift arm is pivotably connected to the step pedalat the bottom end and pivotably connected to the lid at the top end, andthe step pedal is arranged to lever the lift arm upwardly when pivotedin a first direction, and the lift arm is arranged to pivot the lid offof the ring when levered upwardly by the step pedal.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a garbage canwhich is arranged to effectively and hygienically hold at least twogarbage bags therein.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciable from the following description of preferredembodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now bemore fully described in the following detailed description of theinvention taken with the accompanying drawing figures of an exemplaryembodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention garbage can, shownholding two garbage bags therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with its lid in aclosed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with the lid inan open position and its retainer ring partially pivoted;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with the lid andthe retainer ring in the open position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the garbage can;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational vie of the bar of the garbage can;

FIG. 7 is a top, front perspective view of the retainer ring;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top, back perspective view of a bracket of theretainer ring;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG.1;

FIG. 10 is a bottom, back perspective view of the lid;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting bracket of a canportion of the garbage can;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the garbage can;

FIG. 13 is a back elevational view of the garbage can;

FIG. 14 is a right side elevational view of the garbage can, shown withthe lid in the closed position; and,

FIG. 15 is a right side elevational view of the garbage can, shown withthe lid lifted by a step pedal mechanism of the garbage can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,structural elements of the invention. While the present invention isdescribed with respect to what is presently considered to be thepreferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimedis not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, materials and modifications described and assuch may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only,and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, whichis limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated thatthe terms “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “top”, and “bottom” whenused herein, are relative terms meant to refer to the viewingperspective shown in the figures.

Although many methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent tothose described herein can be used in the practice or testing of theinvention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are nowdescribed.

The following description is best understood in view of FIGS. 1-15,which show an exemplary embodiment of the present invention garbage can,hereinafter referred to as “garbage can 100”. Garbage can 100 generallycomprises can portion 110, bar 130, ring 150, and lid 170. In apreferred embodiment, the present invention garbage includes ahands-free means for lifting the lid, such as a step mechanism. Forexample, garbage can 100 may comprise a step mechanism which includesstep pedal 190 and lift arm 210, as described in further detail infra.

Can portion 110 includes horizontally arranged bottom wall 111, tubularwall 112 extending upwardly from bottom wall 111, inner chamber 105defined bottom wall 111 and tubular wall 112, and open top 106. Tubularwall 112 may have a cross-sectional shape resembling any closed figure,for example, a circle or rectangle. In the embodiment shown in thefigures, the cross-sectional shape of tubular wall 112 is substantiallyrectangular, thereby defining front wall 113, back wall 115, left sidewall 114, and right side wall 117. Tubular wall 112 includes upper rim116. The term “upper rim” when used herein refers to the upper margin ofthe tubular wall, not simply the top edge of the tubular wall, which isshown in the figures and referred to herein as “top edge 116 a”. Innerchamber is arranged to receive at least one open garbage bag therein.However, inner chamber 105 is preferably arranged to receive at leasttwo open garbage bags, such as first garbage bag 50 and second garbagebag 60.

The present invention garbage can also comprises a bar adapted to beremovably secured to a first and a second location on the upper rim ofthe tubular wall, wherein the bar is arranged to extend over the innerchamber between the first and the second location on the upper rim whenremovably secured thereto. The bar is adapted to divide the open top ofthe can portion into two apertures and is preferably adapted tosimultaneously secure at least a portion of two open garbage bagsarranged within the open chamber to the upper rim, in order to helpprevent the two garbage bags from falling to the bottom of the canportion.

For example, as shown in the figures, garbage can 100 comprises bar 130.Bar 130 includes a first end, which comprises first hook 132 arrangedabove first tab 133, and a second end, which comprises second hook 134arranged above second tab 135. Bar 130 may be removably secured to afirst and a second location on tubular wall 112, such that it extendsacross open top 106 over inner chamber 105, by simply clasping firsthook 132 to a first location on upper rim 116, and clasping second hook134 to a second location on upper rim 116.

However, in the embodiment shown in the figures, tubular wall 112includes first slot 113 b in upper rim 116 of front wall 113, and secondslot 115 b in upper rim 116 of back wall 115. First slot 113 b isarranged to slidingly receive first tab 133, and second slot 115 b isarranged to slidingly receive second tab 135. Bar 130 may be removablysecured to upper rim 116 at first location by clasping first hook 132 toupper rim 116 above first slot 113 b, such that first tab 132 isinserted within first slot 113 b, and clasping second hook 134 to upperrim 116 above second slot 115 b, such that second tab 134 is insertedwithin second slot 115 b. The arrangement of first and second tabs, 133and 135, within first and second slots, 113 b and 115 b, respectively,helps keep bar 130 stationary on upper rim 116 by preventing it fromsliding on top edge 116 a.

Bar 130 also includes left side wall 130 a and right side wall 130 b.Left and right side walls, 130 a and 130 b, extend along the length ofbar 130, are substantially parallel to each other, and substantiallyvertically disposed. Left and right side walls, 130 a and 130 b, arearranged to trap a portion of each of two garbage bags arranged withininner chamber 105.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, first bag 50, having interior 55, and secondbag 60, having interior 65, are each arranged within inner chamber 105such that one portion of the upper margin of each bag hangs over topedge 116 a, and the remaining portion of the upper margin of each bagextends between front wall 113 and back wall 115. In this figure, bar130 is shown trapping a portion of the upper margin of each of first andsecond garbage bags, 50 and 60, between left and right side walls, 130 aand 130 b, and securing a portion of each of said bags to upper rim 116by trapping such portions underneath first and second hooks, 132 and134. Additionally, bar 130 preferably includes a longitudinally beveledtop surface, as illustrated with the broken line shown extending alongthe length of the top of bar 130 between first and second hooks, 132 and134. Such beveling provides two pitched surfaces along the top of bar130, one which extends downwardly toward first bag 50 and one whichextends downwardly toward second bag 60, each of which helps guide itemsinto the bag toward which it extends.

The present invention garbage can also comprises a retainer ringpivotably coupled to the can portion and arranged to pivot onto and offof the upper rim of the tubular wall. The retainer ring includes arecessed under surface adapted to receive the upper rim therein. Thus,when garbage bags are arranged within the inner chamber such that theirupper margins hang over the top edge of the tubular wall, the retainerring is arranged to secure such upper margins of the bags to the upperrim by trapping them between the recessed under surface and the topedge.

For example, garbage can 100 comprises ring 150 which comprises recessedunder surface 151. Ring 150 is pivotably coupled to tubular wall 116 andarranged to pivot onto and off of upper rim 116, as illustrated with thearrows shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment shown in the figures, theportion of bar 130 between first hook 132 and second hook 134 isarranged elevationally lower than top edge 116 a when bar 130 isremovably secured to upper rim 116. This arrangement allows ring 150 tofit over upper rim 116 without obstruction, i.e., first and secondhooks, 132 and 134, are also receivable within recessed under surface151. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, ring 150 is adapted to securefirst and second garbage bags, 50 and 60, to upper rim 116 by trappingtheir upper margins between recessed under surface 151 and top edge 116a, thereby preventing them from falling to the bottom of can portion110.

The present invention retainer ring may be pivotably coupled to the canportion by any means known in the art. For example, as shown in thefigures, can portion 110 include mounting bracket 120 arranged on upperrim 116 of back wall 115. As shown in FIG. 11, mounting bracket 120includes first and second pivot pins, 122 and 124, respectively. Ring150 includes bracket 152 having first and second apertures, 152 a and152 b, respectively. First and second apertures, 152 a and 152 b, arearranged to receive first and second pivot pins, 122 and 124, therein,and when received therein, ring 150 is arranged to pivot on first andsecond pivot pins, 122 and 124, i.e., ring 150 is pivotably coupled tocan portion 110.

Thus, the positions of two adjacent garbage bags, such as first bag 50and second bag 60, can be effectively held in garbage can 100, as leftand right side walls, 130 a and 130 b, enclose the upper margins of eachbag which are not in contact with upper rim 116, thereby covering anygap that may form therebetween, first and second hooks, 132 and 134,cover and secure a portion of the upper margins of the bags to upper rim116, and ring 150 covers and secures all the upper margins of the bagsdraped over upper rim 116, including those portions which are underneathfirst and second hooks, 132 and 134.

The present invention garbage can also comprises a lid pivotably coupledto the can portion, and arranged to pivot onto and off of the retainerring, when the retainer ring is arranged on the upper rim of the canportion. For example, garbage can 100 comprises lid 170, which ispivotably coupled to can portion 110 and arranged to pivot onto and offof ring 150, when ring 150 is arranged on upper rim 116. Lid 170includes a concave bottom surface 171, first and second apertures, 172 aand 172 b, respectively, and first and second pivot pins, 173 a and 173b, respectively. First and second apertures, 172 a and 172 b, arearranged to receive first and second pivots pins, 122 and 124, therein,and when received therein, lid 170 is arranged to pivot on first andsecond pivot pins, 122 and 124, i.e., lid 170 is pivotably coupled tocan portion 110.

As stated above, the present invention garbage can preferably includes ahands-free means for lifting the lid, such as a step mechanism, as suchmechanisms are both convenient when a user's hands are full and hygienicin that a user need not touch the lid. For example, garbage can 100comprises a step mechanism which includes step pedal 190 and lift arm210. In order to unobtrusively connect step pedal 190 and lift arm 210to can portion 110, bottom wall 111 is arranged substantiallyhorizontally and preferably includes recessed undersurface 111 a, whichis arranged to receive step pedal 190. Additionally, back wall 115preferably includes vertically arranged recessed outer surface 115 a,which is arranged to slidingly receive lift arm 210. Moreover, frontwall 113 includes recess 113 a, which provides the space above steppedal 190 necessary to apply a mechanical force downwardly thereon.

Step pedal 190 includes pedal portion 191 and a U-shaped memberextending therefrom. The U-shaped member includes left arm 192, rightarm 194, and cylindrical bar 196. Left arm 192 includes left aperture192 a, and right arm 194 includes right aperture 194 a. In thisembodiment, bottom wall 111 includes left pivot pin 111 c and rightpivot pin 111 b. Left aperture 192 a and right aperture 194 a arearranged to receive left pivot pin 111 c and right pivot pin 111 b,respectively, therein, and when received therein, step pedal 190 isarranged to pivot relative to can portion 110, such that when pedalportion 191 is forced downwardly, cylindrical bar 196 is forcedupwardly.

Lift arm 210 includes a bottom end comprising cylindrical recess 211 andtop end 212 comprising left and right apertures, 212 a and 212 b,respectively. Cylindrical recess 211 is arranged to pivotably receivecylindrical bar 196 of step pedal 190 therein. Left and right apertures,212 a and 212 b are arranged to pivotably receive first and second pivotpins, 173 a and 173 b, respectively, of lid 170.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when a force is applied downwardly to pedalportion 191, as illustrated with the arrow pointing thereto, cylindricalbar 196 is forced upwardly, which pushes lift arm 210 upwardly, asillustrated with the arrow adjacent to lift arm 210. When lift arm 210is moves upwardly, it pushes lid 170, which simultaneously pivots inleft and right apertures, 212 a and 212 b, and on first and second pivotpins, 122 and 124, of bracket 120. Thus, when step pedal 190 ispivotably coupled to can portion 110 and lift arm 210, and lift arm ispivotably coupled to lid 170, as described supra, lid 170 may be pivotedoff of ring 150 by applying a downwardly directed force to pedal portion191, for example, stepping on pedal portion 191. In other words, steppedal 190 is arranged to lever lift arm 210 upwardly when a downwardlydirected force is applied to pedal portion 191. Preferably, mountingbracket 120 includes cross-bar 125 which is arranged to help guide liftarm 210 as it raises and lowers within recessed outer surface 115 a.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention areefficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to theinvention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill inthe art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that theforegoing description is illustrative of the present invention andshould not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments ofthe present invention are possible without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

1. A garbage can comprising: a can portion having a bottom wall, a tubular wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an upper rim, an inner chamber defined by the bottom wall and the tubular wall, and an open top; a bar adapted to be removably secured simultaneously to a first location and a second location on the upper rim, wherein the bar is arranged to extend over the inner chamber between the first and the second location on the upper rim when removably secured thereto; a ring having a recessed under surface adapted to receive the upper rim therein, the ring being pivotally coupled to the container and arranged to pivot onto and off of the upper rim; and, a lid pivotally coupled to the container and arranged to pivot onto and off of the ring when the ring is arranged on the upper rim, wherein the ring is adapted to secure a flexible material between the recessed under surface and the upper rim.
 2. The garbage can recited in claim 1, wherein the upper rim comprises a top edge and the bar is arranged elevationally lower than the top edge when removably secured to the upper rim.
 3. The garbage can recited in claim 1, wherein the bar includes a first end comprising a first hook and a second end comprising a second hook, and the first hook is adapted to clasp onto the upper rim at the first location and the second hook is adapted to clasp onto the upper rim at the second location.
 4. The garbage can recited in claim 1, wherein the upper rim includes a first slot at the first location and a second slot at the second location, the bar includes a first end having a first tab and a second end having a second tab, and the first tab is adapted to be inserted into the first slot, and the second tab is adapted to be inserted into the second slot
 5. The garbage can recited in claim 1, wherein the garbage can further comprises a: step pedal pivotably connected to the bottom wall; and, a lift arm having a bottom end and a top end, wherein the lift arm is pivotably connected to the step pedal at the bottom end and pivotably connected to the lid at the top end, and the step pedal is arranged to lever the lift arm upwardly when pivoted in a first direction, and the lift arm is arranged to pivot the lid off of the ring when levered upwardly by the step pedal. 